Genealogy Chat

hi Is their a list of boatmen that worked the canal in and around skipton, yorkshire, early to mid 19th century?. My 3xgreatgrandfather was a boatman, and the family are nowhere to be found in 1841and 1851 census, they were from silsden, west yorks, would it be possible that whole familys lived on board and simply didnt get counted? thanks, Sharmala

Yes, the whole family did often live on board, but I have seen them recorded in the censuses. However the entries for boats are usually at the end of each district in a section of their own. They are very good because they describe the boat as well! Don't forget they may be well away from Silsden on the river system. Spread your search wide, although the 1841 census is not very easy and so often illegible. Anne

Whole families did indeed live on boats, they may have moored up for the night on a quiet stretch of canal quite a distance from the nearest enumerator. If he had to walk a long way along the 'cutt' then often the enumerator would not bother, (he wouldn't know if there was a boat to find till he got to it.) A google for the canals in the area will often bring up some results, you need to try and find the names of the companies yhe family may have worked for or contracted to. British Waterways have some lists of boats and the families associated with them but there isn't an online list that i know of. Also try the Historic Narrowboat Owners Club. (HNOC), they have several images of old working boats that are still around on their website.